长部第 19 经（Sujato 英译）第 3 阅读页 · The Great Steward · 3/4

“Please do so, Steward, at your convenience.”“Please do so, Steward, at your convenience.”Then the Great Steward went to the six aristocrats to put the same proposal, and received the same reply.Then the Great Steward went to the six aristocrats to put the same proposal, and received the same reply.He also went to the seven well-to-do brahmins and seven hundred bathed initiates and put to them the same proposal, adding,He also went to the seven well-to-do brahmins and seven hundred bathed initiates and put to them the same proposal, adding,

“Sirs, rehearse the hymns in detail as you have learned and memorized them, and teach each other how to recite.”“Sirs, rehearse the hymns in detail as you have learned and memorized them, and teach each other how to recite.”And they too said,And they too said,“Please do so, Steward, at your convenience.”“Please do so, Steward, at your convenience.”

Then the Great Steward went to his forty equal wives to put the same proposal to them, and received the same reply.Then the Great Steward went to his forty equal wives to put the same proposal to them, and received the same reply.Then the Great Steward had a new ceremonial hall built to the east of his citadel, where he went on retreat for the four months of the rainy season and practiced the absorption on compassion.Then the Great Steward had a new ceremonial hall built to the east of his citadel, where he went on retreat for the four months of the rainy season and practiced the absorption on compassion.And no one approached him except the one who served his meals.And no one approached him except the one who served his meals.

But then, when the four months had passed, the Great Steward became dissatisfied and anxious,But then, when the four months had passed, the Great Steward became dissatisfied and anxious,“I have heard that brahmins of the past said that“I have heard that brahmins of the past said thatwhoever goes on retreat for the four months of the rainy season and practices the absorption on compassion sees the Divinity and discusses with him.whoever goes on retreat for the four months of the rainy season and practices the absorption on compassion sees the Divinity and discusses with him.

But I neither see the Divinity nor discuss with him.”But I neither see the Divinity nor discuss with him.”

6.3. A Discussion With the Divinity6.3. A Discussion With the Divinity

And then the divinity Sanaṅkumāra, knowing the Great Steward’s train of thought, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, vanished from the realm of divinity and reappeared in the Great Steward’s presence.And then the divinity Sanaṅkumāra, knowing the Great Steward’s train of thought, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, vanished from the realm of divinity and reappeared in the Great Steward’s presence.At that, the Great Steward became frightened, scared, his hair standing on end, as he had never seen such a sight before.At that, the Great Steward became frightened, scared, his hair standing on end, as he had never seen such a sight before.So he addressed the divinity Sanaṅkumāra in verse:So he addressed the divinity Sanaṅkumāra in verse:

“Who might you be, sir,“Who might you be, sir,so beautiful, glorious, majestic?so beautiful, glorious, majestic?Not knowing, I ask—Not knowing, I ask—

how am I to know who you are?”how am I to know who you are?”“In the realm of divinity they know me“In the realm of divinity they know meas ‘The Eternal Youth’.as ‘The Eternal Youth’.

All the gods know me thus,All the gods know me thus,and so you should know me, Steward.”and so you should know me, Steward.”“A Divinity deserves a seat and water,“A Divinity deserves a seat and water,

foot-salve, and sweet cakes.foot-salve, and sweet cakes.Sir, I ask you to please acceptSir, I ask you to please acceptthese gifts of hospitality.”these gifts of hospitality.”

“I accept the gifts of hospitality“I accept the gifts of hospitalityof which you speak.of which you speak.I grant you the opportunityI grant you the opportunity

to ask whatever you desire—to ask whatever you desire—about welfare and benefit in this life,about welfare and benefit in this life,or happiness in lives to come.”or happiness in lives to come.”

Then the Great Steward thought,Then the Great Steward thought,“the divinity Sanaṅkumāra has granted me an opportunity.“the divinity Sanaṅkumāra has granted me an opportunity.Should I ask him about what is beneficial for this life or lives to come?”Should I ask him about what is beneficial for this life or lives to come?”

Then he thought,Then he thought,“I’m skilled in what is beneficial for this life, and others even ask me about it.“I’m skilled in what is beneficial for this life, and others even ask me about it.Why don’t I ask the Divinity about the benefit that specifically applies to lives to come?”Why don’t I ask the Divinity about the benefit that specifically applies to lives to come?”

So he addressed the divinity Sanaṅkumāra in verse:So he addressed the divinity Sanaṅkumāra in verse:“I’m in doubt, so I ask the Divinity—who is free of doubt—“I’m in doubt, so I ask the Divinity—who is free of doubt—about things one may learn from another.about things one may learn from another.

Standing on what, training in whatStanding on what, training in whatmay a mortal reach the deathless realm of divinity?”may a mortal reach the deathless realm of divinity?”“He among mankind, O brahmin, has given up possessiveness,“He among mankind, O brahmin, has given up possessiveness,

at one, compassionate,at one, compassionate,free of putrefaction, and refraining from sex.free of putrefaction, and refraining from sex.Standing on that, training in thatStanding on that, training in that

a mortal may reach the deathless realm of divinity.”a mortal may reach the deathless realm of divinity.”“Sir, I understand what ‘giving up possessiveness’ means.“Sir, I understand what ‘giving up possessiveness’ means.It’s when someone gives up a large or small fortune, and a large or small family circle. They shave off hair and beard, dress in ocher robes, and go forth from the lay life to homelessness.It’s when someone gives up a large or small fortune, and a large or small family circle. They shave off hair and beard, dress in ocher robes, and go forth from the lay life to homelessness.

That’s how I understand ‘giving up possessiveness’.That’s how I understand ‘giving up possessiveness’.Sir, I understand what ‘at one’ means.Sir, I understand what ‘at one’ means.It’s when someone frequents a secluded lodging—a wilderness, the root of a tree, a hill, a ravine, a mountain cave, a charnel ground, a forest, the open air, a heap of straw.It’s when someone frequents a secluded lodging—a wilderness, the root of a tree, a hill, a ravine, a mountain cave, a charnel ground, a forest, the open air, a heap of straw.

That’s how I understand ‘at one’.That’s how I understand ‘at one’.Sir, I understand what ‘compassionate’ means.Sir, I understand what ‘compassionate’ means.It’s when someone meditates spreading a heart full of compassion to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of compassion to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.It’s when someone meditates spreading a heart full of compassion to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of compassion to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.

That’s how I understand ‘compassionate’.That’s how I understand ‘compassionate’.But I don’t understand what you say about putrefaction.But I don’t understand what you say about putrefaction.What among mankind, O the Divinity, is putrefaction?What among mankind, O the Divinity, is putrefaction?

I don’t understand, so tell me, attentive one:I don’t understand, so tell me, attentive one:wrapped in what do people stink,wrapped in what do people stink,headed for hell, shut out of the realm of divinity?”headed for hell, shut out of the realm of divinity?”

“Anger, lies, cheating, and treachery,“Anger, lies, cheating, and treachery,miserliness, vanity, jealousy,miserliness, vanity, jealousy,desire, stinginess, harassing others,desire, stinginess, harassing others,

greed, hate, vanity, and delusion—greed, hate, vanity, and delusion—those bound to such things are not devoid of putrefaction;those bound to such things are not devoid of putrefaction;they’re headed for hell, shut out of the realm of divinity.”they’re headed for hell, shut out of the realm of divinity.”

“As I understand what you say about putrefaction, it’s not easy to quell while living at home.“As I understand what you say about putrefaction, it’s not easy to quell while living at home.I shall go forth from the lay life to homelessness!”I shall go forth from the lay life to homelessness!”“Please do so, Steward, at your convenience.”“Please do so, Steward, at your convenience.”

6.4. Informing King Reṇu6.4. Informing King Reṇu

So the Great Steward went to King Reṇu and said,So the Great Steward went to King Reṇu and said,“Worthy sir, please now find another high priest to manage the affairs of state for you.“Worthy sir, please now find another high priest to manage the affairs of state for you.I wish to go forth from the lay life to homelessness.I wish to go forth from the lay life to homelessness.

As I understand what the Divinity says about putrefaction, it’s not easy to quell while living at home.As I understand what the Divinity says about putrefaction, it’s not easy to quell while living at home.I shall go forth from the lay life to homelessness.I shall go forth from the lay life to homelessness.I announce to King Reṇu,I announce to King Reṇu,

the lord of the land:the lord of the land:you must learn how to rule,you must learn how to rule,for I no longer care for my ministry.”for I no longer care for my ministry.”

“If you’re lacking any pleasures,“If you’re lacking any pleasures,I’ll supply them for you.I’ll supply them for you.I’ll protect you from any harm,I’ll protect you from any harm,

for I command the nation’s army.for I command the nation’s army.You are my father, I am your son!You are my father, I am your son!O Steward, please don’t leave!”O Steward, please don’t leave!”

“I’m lacking no pleasures,“I’m lacking no pleasures,and no one is harming me.and no one is harming me.I’ve heard a non-human voice,I’ve heard a non-human voice,

so I no longer care for lay life.”so I no longer care for lay life.”“What was that non-human like?“What was that non-human like?What did he say to you,What did he say to you,

hearing which you would abandonhearing which you would abandonour house and all our people?”our house and all our people?”“Before entering this retreat,“Before entering this retreat,

I only liked to sacrifice.I only liked to sacrifice.I kindled the sacred flame,I kindled the sacred flame,strewn about with kusa grass.strewn about with kusa grass.

But then the Divinity the Eternal YouthBut then the Divinity the Eternal Youthappeared to me from the realm of divinity.appeared to me from the realm of divinity.He answered my question,He answered my question,

hearing which I no longer care for lay life.”hearing which I no longer care for lay life.”“I have faith, O Steward,“I have faith, O Steward,in that of which you speak.in that of which you speak.

Having heard a non-human voice,Having heard a non-human voice,what else could you do?what else could you do?We will follow your example,We will follow your example,

Steward, be my Teacher!Steward, be my Teacher!Like a gem of beryl—Like a gem of beryl—flawless, immaculate, beautiful—flawless, immaculate, beautiful—

that’s how pure we shall live,that’s how pure we shall live,in the Steward’s dispensation.in the Steward’s dispensation.If the Steward is going forth from the lay life to homelessness, we shall do so too. Your destiny shall be ours.”If the Steward is going forth from the lay life to homelessness, we shall do so too. Your destiny shall be ours.”

6.5. Informing the Six Aristocrats6.5. Informing the Six Aristocrats

Then the Great Steward went to the six aristocrats and said,Then the Great Steward went to the six aristocrats and said,“Good fellows, please now find another high priest to manage the affairs of state for you.“Good fellows, please now find another high priest to manage the affairs of state for you.